Gone are the days when gin was labelled ‘mothers ruin’ and banned from the streets of London.

Gin culture has really taken off, with boutique gin bars and tasting rooms opening up across the globe, and there’s quite a backstory to how gin & tonic came to be so popular.

This isn’t surprising if you consider that making a G&T your sundowner of choice is not only a classy decision, but also a smart one.

Turns out your favourite drink is more than just delicious – it’s also surprisingly good for you.

Here’s Business Insider with six surprising health benefits of gin:

1. Juniper Berries Are Super Berries

The etymology of the word ‘gin’ goes back to the old English word ‘genever’ and the Latin ‘Juniperus’ – now juniper. Juniper berries are the main ingredient in gin and they’re packed with infection-fighting qualities. They’re also warming, stimulating and disinfecting.

2. Antioxidants Lead To Fewer Wrinkles And Smoother Skin

Like you need an excuse to switch out your anti-wrinkle cream for a drink of Cape Town Gin. Juniper berries are full of antioxidants that boost the regenerating cells in your skin for a smoother, healthier complexion.

Finally, a way to incorporate your beauty routine into your social life.

3. Gin Is Low On Calories

If you’re counting your calories, one of the first things that you’re told to give up is alcohol. Luckily for you, gin is one of the least calorific spirits with only 97 calories per shot. To top it off, the juniper berries increase the number of enzymes that break down your food which helps your digestion.

Pair it with a sugar-free tonic from Fitch & Leedes, made with quality ingredients that won’t compromise the health properties or taste of the gin, to take your guilt-free drinking to the next level.

If you want to drink your gin neat, you can go for a flavoured option like Cape Town Gin’s Pink Lady, which couples the finest ingredients with hints of rose water.

4. Gin Can Help You Live Longer

That’s right, unlike other alcoholic beverages that can shave years off of your life, gin can actually improve your health. Juniper berries contain flavonoids which are great for preventing heart disease and improving blood circulation as you get older.

Juniper berries also help stop water retention in your body, allowing you to pass more water than you would with any other alcohol. This means that the toxins that you consume when you drink alcohol are flushed out faster, helping to prevent kidney and liver disease.

Everything in moderation, of course.

5.  It’s Good For Dem Bones

The ingredients in gin help to relieve achy joints and gout. The alcohol content, coupled with the juniper berries, is also an effective treatment for chronic pain and inflammations such as arthritis.

[imagesource: Vegan Liftz]

Soak some raisins in Cape Town Gin to make an on-the-go pain relieving snack.

6. It Can Help Fight Off Coughs

The oils in juniper berries can help rid you of a cough by expelling the mucus in the throat and aiding lung congestion. You can also mix gin with different herbs and ginger to help soothe a sore throat.

With qualities like that, there’s absolutely no reason not to stock up on quality gin.

If you want to figure out which one works best for you, why not visit The Cape Town Gin Hidden Door Tasting Room in Heritage Square.

Sit back and relax to a tutored tasting of their three Cape Town Gins: Classic Dry, Rooibos Red and The Pink Lady.

Cape Town Gin is handcrafted locally and packed with healthy juniper berries. In other words, it’s a superior gin, made right here in Cape Town.

Once you’ve made your choice, you can order it online and have it delivered to your door.

Raise a glass to your health!

[source:businessinsider]